Alinement device for type-writing machines.



R. E. NAUMBURG. ALINEMENT DEVICE FOR TYPE WRITING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED Jumo, 1913.

1,066,749. Patented July 8, 1913.

ROBERT E. NAUMBURG, or NEW Yong, Y.

' ALllINEMENT DEVIC FOR TYPE-WRITING Mac IrIEs.

Specification of Letters Patent.

PatentedJ nly 8, 1913.

' sputum filed January 20, 1913s. samur i-13,

T all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, Ronna'r NAUMBURG, a citizen of theUnited'States, rcsidin in New York city, i'n' the county of New and State of New York, have invented a new and'usefullmprovement in Alinement Devices for Type-Writing Machines, of which theifollowing is a specification This invention relates to t-ypewriting machines, and its object isto-prevent faulty alinernent, due toiniprope'r'. actuation of the shiftingmcchanism or improper correlationof the shifting and printing mechanisms.

This invention comprises alinement'insuring means, which prevents the't'ype mechanism striking the paper when the part operated by the shift key is intransit orin other by the shift mechanism and-one of.

an intermediate position.'-' This it may ac- 'complish either by interposinga positive stop, sons to arrf e st,,, t hetype carrier before it reaches the'priht-ingipo nt, or by forming one or both of the' contacting portions with- .a beveled sin-face oredgefso thati'theprintfl,

ing mechanism cam --01: fi o il shit'table part to proper, position by t "thus comprisesane ement, vvhich is nor.- mally movable by the: printing m'e'chanismr in the printing. operatiom fand ai 'element," which, duringnorrnal or properoperation of the writing machine, isouttifthe patli of the first'el'ementibut zwhi'ch,'by v rtue of these elements being relatively movable by the shiftmechanism, is caused to inter" cept the said element- .while the ,shi fting op eration is being performed and until and unless, the shiftable part-isin one of its printing positions: As already indicated the elements may be formed so that the printing movement is positivelyarr'ested, or they may contact with a glancing'blow, so

that the energy applied-to the typ eaotion.

tends to mm the shift mechanism to proper position. The particular means by which the elements are movedfrelatively to; each them is moved by the printingmechanism in its normal 'operat-ion'may, be varied. I prefer, however, to inount'one or bothof the cooperating elements directly on parts lcustomarily present/in a writing machine.

Further, it is not necessary that both'o'f the elements beof special formation asit will ork ,so that th'e part with theirecess' ime The. construct-ion in; which he cooperthe t-ypestrilr'esthe] apeif." The invention be obvious that one 'of be only I a surface or portion of such usual 1 part.

In the construction which I regard as the best embodiment of myjfinvntion the-co operating element is 'shiftablefacross the path-of the element. moved Bythe printing".

mechanism, and theiparts are "so' proportifonedthatthe normaliy reciprocating eley merit-clears the obstacle in any of. the printstructing element has not been-moved entirely to one side or oth'eiof such path. Obviously, the reverse, of this wouldb'e to shift the normally reciprocating element laterally path with respect to' a stationary obstacle. Such obstacle maybo'apositive stop r .'"o

of its or abutment having 'openiiigs t-hroughwhich the 'normally reciprocating-element can'pass or into which it can enter atthelseveral 'ingpositions but encounters it if the ob{- positions controlled b'y .--t h e shift key; or, clearly, this'arriingement might be reversed,

h1g5 wouldbe the, no m are.- a

atinglelemen tr oved-aerost e pathof the hormallyreciprocating element, or vice-x verse, is -especially desirable in "forms" of. writing machinesin which a shift, movement-,-

1 t'r g r. to each -"o ther,1- -ori .a-pprogn mately 50, since such movements can be availed iof directly.

Finally, instead of operating- :thenornially reciprocating elementldirectly'by' the print ing mechanism Iprefer to-operateitby. the.

universal bar or letter-space mechanism, which is actuated whenever a type-key -is struck;

The accompanying drawings illustrate the invention as embodied-in axinachine'in.

which -the platen-is shifted up "and down,

and the escapement or? universal device" moves for'wardand backward, but itwill be understood thatit is not necessarily limited to such construction. In these viewsr lfignre- 1 is a sectional side view'of a type writer embodying the invention; Figs. 2, 3

and 4 are sectional side views, on an enlarged scale, showing different forms of the cooperating elements of the alinement-insuring-means the-full 'l'rnesindicatiiag the normal rest positions thereof and the (It-ted lines indicating the shifted position ofone 22 are.oscillated in any element. and the reciprocating movement of the elementoperated by the printing mechanism; Fig. 5 is a similar view of another form of these elemnts, the parts being shown in normal rest positions; and Fig. 6 is a view of the same parts, the element 30 being in shifted position and the element 32 in the position to which it is moved rearward by the operation of the printing mechanism.

These views show only those portions of a writing machine which are essential for the understanding of the present invention. arts not shown may be of any usual or ap proved constructio The numeral 10 indicates one of a-series of type-bars operated by its key lever 11, so as to swing upward and backward against the platen 12. The latter is mounted on a carriage 13, which is guided at 14 and 15 on'the. frame of the machine. The platen is carried by arms 16, pivoted at 17 to the carriage', and adapted tov be' swung upward with the platen for the purpose of enabling either of the characters aft on the type-bar to print. By means of a vertically-movable rail 20, on which travels a roller 21 carried by said arms, the rail isfixed at its ends to rockable arms or frames 22, ."which are located at opposite sides of the machine and pivoted about an, axis 23.. The said frames suitable manner from a shift key indicated at 24.

A universal bar, indicated at 25, is located so as to be encountered and moved rearward by any one of the type-bars. The universal bar is supported and guided in any suitable or usual manner, and to it is se cured a fore and aft reciprocating frame or member 26, which, at'its rear end, is pivs otally connected to a rocker frame 27 The universal bar member 26 is adapted on its' rearward movement to contact with a dog rocker 28, carrying the usual loose and rigid dogs to cooperate with the esc'apement wheel 29. able, connection with the space bar at the front of the key-board (not shown.)

The alinement-insuring means I have shown in the form of a horizontal rod 30, carried by the rocking-frames 22 of the shift mechanism and extending across the interior of the machine; this rod preferably carrying a rotatable sleeve or anti-friction roller device 31. 'The other element of the alinement device is shown in the form of a movab e frame 26. The end face of this projection may be perpendicular, as shown at 32. in.Fig.' 3, so that on contacting with the part 30, 31 the universal barmember, and therefore the type-bar, would be positively brought to rest before the type The rocking frame 27 has suithowever, bevel the end of. the element, both above and below the center, as indicated at 32 in Fig. 4, so that if the element 30, 31 be encountered in an intermediate position the element 32, if moved with sufficient force, will cam the platen to proper position before the impact of the type occurs. An-

other construction is shown in Figs. 1 and 2 and designated 32,- the same having a vertical end face as, having a length equal to part only of the shift movement, and bev- "position the member 30, 31 will-0e contacted by one of the inclined surfaces y, so that the platen is cammed the short distance necessary to restore or move itto the desired position.

It will be clear that the form andmanner of mounting and operation of the coiiperating elements of the alinement-insuring means are susceptible of wide variation. Thus, it is clear that the part 32 (or 32*, 32 and the part might be reversed. Figs. 5 and-6 show'a form of, these parts in which the element 30 -;is astop .havingfaces oredges perpendicular to the. path-of reciprocation of the element 32 has slots or openings 6, 7, corresponding to normal and shifted positions respectively, which receive the end of the element'32 when the shift is in proper condition. It will be obvious that'either of these. elements may be the one-which is normally reciprocate'd by the printin mechanism.

In any 0 those :forms in which the type is arrested before it prints, the stop is-so lo-..

cated that the universalbar is brought to rest before ,it moves far enough to remove the dog normally engagedwith the lescap ment rack from engagement therewith. Thus, the carriage will not space and itwill not be necessary to-baclespa'ce before again striking the type keyto print the character.

It will be seen that my inventionnot only prevents the printing of a character when the shift mechanism is in improper condition, but also servcsto lock the shifted part against return to normal position after the type has reached a point .ator'near the paper. This is because the element 30 or 30 when in its upper position, which is the position for printing capitals, cannot descend even though the finger be taken off the shift key after the element '3, 32 or'32 has passed beneath it or into one of the slots.

reacherL the paper. As illustrated I may. T s, if the platen has been shifted the operation of the printing mechanism serves to hold it against return when the type is printing or about to print.

\Vhile I have illustrated my invention in connection with one shift, it will be obvious that it is equally applicable to two shifts.

\Vhat is claimed as new is:

1. In a typewriting machine having type mechanism, a platen, letter-space mechanism actuated by the type mechanism, and mechanism for relatively shifting the type mechanism and platen, alinement-insuring means comprising cooperating elements relatively movable by the operation of'the shift mechanism, one element being movable by the letter-space mechanism, and the other element being adapted to intercept or clear such movement according as the shifting operation is partial or complete.

Q. In a typewriting machine, the combination with type-bars, a platen, mechanism for'relatively shifting the type-bars and platen, and a universal ,bar, of an element movable by the universal bar, and an alinement-insnring device cooperating with said element through the operation of the shift mechanism so-as to be out of the path of saidelement when said mechanism is properly operated and at other times to intercept the same.

3. In a typcwriting machine, the combi,

nation with printing mechanism, a platen, a shift key for moving one of these two parts to different printing positions, and letterspace mechanism operated by the printing mechanisn'i, of alinement-insuring means comprising an element on one of the parts of the letter-space mechanism, a cooperating element out of contact with the first-mentioncd element during normal operation of the printing mechanism, and means Whereby operation of said shift key causes the second element to intercept the path of movement; of the first in the interval of shifting from one printing position to another. I

4. In a typmvriting machine, the combination with printing mechanism, a platen,

mechanism for shifting one of these two parts to different printing positions, and letter-space mechanism operated by the painting mechanism, of alinement-insuring means comprising an element movable by the letterspace mechanism, and an element on one of the parts of the sh ft mechanism and movable thereby across the path of the tirst-1nentioned element.

5. In a t \"pewriting machine, the combination with printing mechanism, a platen, mechanism for shifting one of these two parts to different printing positions, and letter-space mechanism operated by the printing mechanism, of alinement-insuring means comprising an element on a part of the letter-space mechanism, and an element on one of the parts of the shift mechanism and movable thereby across the'path of the first-mentioned element.

6. In a typewriting machine, the combination with type-bars, a platen, and mechaf nism for shifting one of these parts to different printing positions, of a universal bar member, and an alinement-insuring device .movable by the operation of said shift mechanism so as to obstruct the universal bar device when the shiftable part is in transit.

7. In a typewriting machine, the combination with type-bars, a platen, mechanism for relatively shifting the same, and a uni- "ersal bar, of alinement-insuring means comprising an element moved directly by the universal bar, and an element moved directly by a part of the shift mechanism across the path of the first-mentioned element. t

8. In a typewritihg machine, the combination with letter-space and shift mechanisms having movements substantially at right angles to each other, of alinement-insuring means comprising elements relatively movable by said movements so as to be out of engagement during normal operation but to be intercepted one by the other if the letter-space mechanism is operated when ctheshift mechanism is in an intermediate position.

9. In a typewriting machine, the combination with printing mechanism, paperholding meahs, mechanism for shifting one of these parts for different printing positions, and letter-space mechanism, of a catch controlled by said letter-space mechanism so as to hold the shiftable part in position.

10. In a typewriting machine, the combination with printing mechanism, paperholding' means, and mechanism for shifting one of these parts from normal position to a different printing position, of a universal bar, and a detnt operated thereby to hold the shiftable part against return to normal position;

y 11. In a typewriter having printing mechanism and shift, mechanism, mdans for preventing the alinement being affected by operation of the shift mechanism, comprising an element reciprocated backward and forward the printing mechanism, and an element moved up and down by the shift mechanism and adapted to intercept the reciprocated element in event of the shift mechanism being out of position.

12. In a typewriter, the combination of printing mechanism, paper-holding means, shift mechanism for relatively shifting said printing mechanism and paper-holding means, letter-space mechanism operated by the printing mechanism, and stop means controlled by the operation of the shift name in the presence of two subscribingmechanism for arresting the printing mech- Witnesses.

anism and the letter-space mechanism before either can become effective in event of ROBERT NAUMLURG' 5 the shift mechanism being in an intermedi- \Vitnesses:

ate stageof its operation. G. H. EMPEY.

In witness whereof I have signed my MAPmcE lio'rvnxizic.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commiseimm m 1 mm Washington, D. C." 

